What is a GSA?

GSA is the General Services Administration, the landlord and general store for much of the Federal government. If you want to sell your goods and services to the Federal government, most government agencies require that you have a GSA Schedule Contract. When you hear the question "What is a GSA?", often it is in reference to a GSA Schedule Contract.

What is a GSA Schedule?

A GSA Schedule is a formal agreement between your company and the Federal government. A GSA Schedule is also called a GSA Contract, although GSA doesn’t order anything from you. Government procurement officials use the information in a Schedule (Contract) to order from you. A GSA Schedule is a five-year contract, renewable for up to 20 years, which lists the prices the Federal government has agreed to pay for a vendor's commercial products and services. GSA Contracts are used by government buyers to purchase directly from commercial vendors. Products and services are grouped into similar categories, referred to as GSA Schedules or GSA Schedule Contracts, to allow lower search costs and enable procurement efficiencies. Government buyers appreciate the ease of locating suppliers, especially small businesses that can serve as reliable sources for needed goods and services. In turn, contract-holding vendors enjoy the increased visibility allowed by GSA Schedules, as well as the reputability gained from being a GSA Schedule Holder. As GSA Schedules cover virtually every conceivable product, from commercial to industrial, and most professional services, a tremendous number of opportunities are available to companies both large and small. GSA Schedules are now a favored means of procurement for most government buyers and the preferred marketing vehicle for businesses looking to enter the government market.

What is in a GSA Schedule Contract?

Your GSA Schedule has your contract number, the beginning and ending dates of your GSA Schedule Contract, the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations) clauses that form the legal basis and rules of your contract, a description of the goods or services your company offers through the GSA Schedule, and the maximum rates or prices you may charge the government or prime contractors for each labor category and other items.

Why do I need a GSA Schedule Contract?

To respond to a government requirement, in many cases, the government and its established agencies require you to have a GSA Schedule Contract. Companies with GSA Contracts are favored because using GSA Schedule Contracts dramatically reduces acquisition lead time and creates more efficiency for government agencies. The GSA Schedule Contract has pre-negotiated rates and prices, so proposals are viewed as fair and reasonable. Additionally, in most cases, an award based on a GSA Schedule Contract is considered to have been “competed,” an important government requirement. A GSA Contract is a powerful calling card even if a government agency does not buy from GSA Schedules. Having a GSA Schedule Contract means that the government “certifies” your company, including its financial system, expertise and past performance.

What's so difficult about completing the GSA Schedule Application anyway?

A GSA Schedule Application is comprised of countless steps. The GSA Greenville process involves many obstacles including + pages of information, across many documents, which the government has written in a style and format that can often be overwhelming and confusing. Many small companies have spent at least a year, unproductively, trying to understand, decipher and respond to GSA’s densely worded documents. Unfortunately, most of the time these efforts end up fruitless, with a proposal the GSA rejects due to omissions and mistakes. Experience, patience, attention to detail, and excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary to complete the process and deal with GSA.

While a laborious GSA Greenville process must be undertaken successfully in order to be approved as a government supplier, a company that is awarded a GSA Schedule Contract will be placed on a list of approved vendors for a given GSA Schedule. This enables government purchasing officials to order supplies and services from the approved company using GSA Advantage!® -- the government's online shopping and ordering system.